UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the English place name Gregg referring to someone who lived near a grassy hillside.
In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Greggs surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 80, ranked #33,030, down from #17,429 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walsingham, Toxteth Park and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greggs is 145 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.5%.
1881 census count
124
Ranked #17,429
Modern count
80
2016, ranked #33,030
Peak year
1891
145 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Greggs surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Greggs surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 124 | #17,429 |
| 1891 | historical | 145 | #18,752 |
| 1901 | historical | 87 | #24,386 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 74 | #30,218 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 72 | #32,059 |
| 2007 | modern | 70 | #32,580 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 76 | #32,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 69 | #33,695 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 80 | #33,030 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walsingham, Toxteth Park, Newcastle All Saints, Lambeth and Boxford, Groton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walsingham | Durham |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Boxford, Groton | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Greggs surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Greggs, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Greggs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Greggs household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Greggs is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Greggs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Greggs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Greggs is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Greg" or "Gregg," which means "watchful" or "vigilant." The name may have also been influenced by the Old Norse name "Greggr," which has a similar meaning.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Greggs can be found in various medieval records and documents. For example, the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions a person named "Gregge" in Lincolnshire.
Throughout the centuries, the surname Greggs has been associated with various places and locations. Some notable examples include the village of Greggs in Northumberland, which may have given rise to the surname, and the town of Greggs Flatts in Yorkshire.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname Greggs was Robert Greggs, who lived in Northumberland in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir William Greggs (1590-1662), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Carlisle.
In the 17th century, John Greggs (1611-1652) was a prominent English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of Crayford in Kent. His writings and sermons were widely influential during his lifetime.
The 18th century saw the rise of James Greggs (1726-1803), a Scottish merchant and businessman who established a successful trading company in Glasgow. His descendants went on to become prominent figures in the city's commercial and social circles.
Moving into the 19th century, Sir John Greggs (1805-1876) was a renowned British architect who designed numerous churches, public buildings, and private residences across England. His most notable works include St. Peter's Church in Bournemouth and the Greggs Building in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Another notable figure from this time period was William Greggs (1835-1911), a British philanthropist and social reformer. He was instrumental in establishing several charitable organizations and advocating for improved living conditions for the working classes in industrial cities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greggs surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 22 Greggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 22 | 6.16x |
| Middlesex | 21 | 1.75x |
| Surrey | 20 | 3.42x |
| Lancashire | 17 | 1.19x |
| Northumberland | 11 | 6.16x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 0.93x |
| Essex | 8 | 3.38x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.22x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.13x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.21x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.25x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Streatham in Surrey leads with 12 Greggs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 134.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Streatham | 12 | 134.83x |
| Toxteth Park | 12 | 24.89x |
| Stanhope | 10 | 271.00x |
| Hackney London | 9 | 13.38x |
| Wolsingham | 9 | 276.92x |
| Bedlington | 7 | 117.45x |
| Harwich St Nicholas | 7 | 382.51x |
| York St George | 6 | 638.30x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 4.78x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 7.81x |
| Bradford | 4 | 60.06x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 9.50x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 3 | 28.14x |
| Sutton Stoneferry | 3 | 88.24x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 9.47x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 2.61x |
| Hendon | 2 | 46.30x |
| Holy Trinity St Mary | 2 | 110.50x |
| Barking | 1 | 14.43x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 1.92x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 21.01x |
| Chiswick | 1 | 15.24x |
| Collierley | 1 | 62.89x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.08x |
| Ealing | 1 | 9.33x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 11.85x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 3.38x |
| Hartleyburn | 1 | 454.55x |
| Hunstonworth | 1 | 476.19x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 13.42x |
| Little Addington | 1 | 714.29x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 13.33x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.07x |
| Salford | 1 | 2.39x |
| St Leonard Eastcheap | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Watford | 1 | 15.60x |
| Westoe | 1 | 4.94x |
| Weston On Trent | 1 | 454.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Greggs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Greggs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Greggs households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 31 |
| Carman | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Coalminer | 2 |
| Factory Hand (Lab) | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| Sailmaker | 2 |
| Accountant | 1 |
| Appren Upholstress | 1 |
| Banksman | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Boilermaker Apprentice | 1 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carmans Wife | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk Railway | 1 |
| Domestic Ser | 1 |
| Game Keeper | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Gold Beater | 1 |
| House Carpenter | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Lab Coal Yd | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer On Pier | 1 |
| Labourer's Son | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lead Miner | 1 |
| Parlour Maid (D S) | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Railway Plate Layer | 1 |
| Sapper R E | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Sheperd | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Greggs surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 80 in 2016. That gives Greggs a modern rank of #33,030.
A habitational surname derived from the English place name Gregg referring to someone who lived near a grassy hillside.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Greggs bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.